LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 179, 8 November 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Prayers for rain are being offered ih some of the churches in tiie South Island. A ease of drunkenness ana one 01 theft will be heard at the S.M. Court at this morning's sittings. Messrs. Petersen Bros., Inglewood, were the successful tenderers for the erection of a post office at Rahotu. Receipts from all sources in connection with the band competition held in Dunedin came to about £790, which will cover expenses. The dates of the Supreme Court sittings in New Plymouth for 1911 are as follows: Tuesday, March 7; Tuesday, June 20; and Tuesday, September 12. The Hawera Opera House and McBride's corner have been soid with an eighth of an acre each. Messrs. Convoy and Campbell purchased the Opera House at £2250, and Mr. Joseph Wilson, Mcßride's comer at £2750. In order to get as much information as possible about a private letter addressed by Mr. Symes to Mr. MeCluggage, a well-known Stratford resident will be called for the purpose of ascertaining whether he can shed a;iv information on the matter, says the Parliamentary correspondent of the Eltham Argus. A plumber informs the Eltham Argus that he cannot, at any rate of wages, procure tradesmen, and is consequent!) unable to meet the demands of his customers. His orders are in arrears, and overtime work does not enable him to keep pace with the demand. He attributes the scarcity of tradesmen to the restrictions of the unions in the mattei of employing apprentices. There are| not. he says, sufficient tradesmen being trained to meet the requirements of the' Dominion. j ''Examined and found correct, except, that "he payment of £2S ISs for del'c-j gates' expenses to Wellim'ton re jut-; posed new county.' and 'the transfers' from the Cencral Account to the filter-! est Account, numbered ] and 3.' arc ] without, authority of law, and are therefore disallowed." Such is the wordind of the tags attached to the Taranaki, County Coun-.-il's balance-silent by the AudUov-iieneral (or 1010. Councillors seemed ;i little unconcerned about them, but the chairman remarked laconically that there was no use trying to act ft clean sheet, as "they would ahva-.-s find a tag.'' " ' I What was stated to be a "hard case'' was the p.-sition put before the Connti I Council at the meeting vesterdav by I an Omata settler, who wished the Council to improve the road leading tn hU: property. The chairman Urn Council had had charge of that road for only six months, and settlers could not ex-!' p"ft everything +o lie done .it once; at any rate. <he ridinc was overdrawn three or four hundreds. AM (lie satisfaction that was promised was the advice to hand together and ''do somethin? yourselves." There was no help for it—out it had to come. '-'lt just. means this," was the reply in a tone of resignation. "th"t T will have to leave' the farm. T will have to clear out and. leave someone else to pay the rates'" That set the discussion going acs'ain. and it turned opt that n report on the roar; was somewhere in the records. Hope -,-e-!: rived! TTe <di'ck to !> ; s «'!"«! ,W '' eventual!'- left the maetir-v'v-lth the as.'' sura no {hat the work would he done, and wilh a hope of better dnvs in stove ' transforming his careworn countenance. ■

A first offender for drunkenness appeared before Mr. 11. S. Fitzherbert, S.M., at the local Court yesterday morning, and was convicted and discharged. Thrushes' eggs and heads are to be purchased by the County Council for the future in addition to those already being paid for. More pocket-money foi I active boys. It is estimated that at the present rate oi profit-making the Palniersto:i municipal kinematograph picture venture should work out on the right side of the ledger to the extent of about £SOO. Three hundred divorce cases are down for hearing in the Philadelphia courts. They are said to be t':e result of summer idylls, when the .oniance of holiday wooing and swift ...Arriage has given place to disillusion. At yesterday's meeting the Taranaki County Council confirmed the chairman's ' action in leasing a portion of the county I chambers to the Agricultural DepartI ment at a rental of £52 per annum, possession to be given in the first week in January. A return was asked for recently by Mr. Okey, M.P., shoeing the number of officers of the Defence Force receiv- ' ing house allowance. The return shows I that Lieutenant-Colonel Head is the [ only one, the amount of his allowance ■ being £SO. With the exception of the Ashburton . Council, all the county councils who had ; been circularised by the Taranaki Coivn- . oil regarding the proposed model by-laws promised their support. With such unanimity behind them, the Government's hand will be strengthened in putting j the measure through the House. ; Messrs. Hatrick and Co. will probably ■ put a steam waggon on the road bei tween New Plymouth and Opunake, and > the firm informed the County Council • yesterday that the waggon would probably be fitted with rubber tyres, at the i same time asking to know definitely if ; that class of waggon would be subject ; to toll fees of 3s 9d per trip. The re- ; ply of the Council was that a three-ton ■ waggon would come under the 3s 9a ! toll. v ' The volcano on Savaii Island is still [ active, though most of its awe-inspiring ' glory has departed. The brilliant spectacle produced by the outpouring of molten lava has given place to heavy smoke, which lolls lazily from the cone in various fantastic shapes. But the volcano is burning furiously inside, and has ' found an outlet for its discharge through an underground channel ten miles long, ultimately finding its way to : the sea. For the last two years the volcano has caused no damage. Hanco, the handcuff king, was beaten 1 by two young experts at Dunedin. The\ enmeshed him with a long strong rope, 1 which, having a "policeman" grip above both elbows, pinioned his right arm to his chest, and the left to the small of his. back. A couple of turns round his neck prevented his arms from moving down, and the turns being tight round his thighs prevented an upward movement; the elaboration of coils round his arms and body did the rest, and he gave in after two hours' struggle. Thus the Taihape Times:—We have been shown a copy of one of those products of modern religious mania known as a prayer chain. It has all the evidences of heathenish fanaticism and holds out enticing promises for those who add links to the chain, while conveying threats of calamity on those who break it. It is communications such as these that tend to bring religion into contempt and place it on a par with the conduct of footpads and bandits. There ought to be some means of dealing with the senders of such trash. German instance of red-tape. On December 23rd last Dr. Kotipin, professor at the University of Bonn, was killed in a railway accident near Scheesse!. The provincial authorities have now sent a claim to Fran Koelpin, the widow, demanding 8s expended at the time of the accident on removing the blood stains from the railway premises. An allied New Zealand case: Hanging kerosene lamp fell from ceiling in grocery store.' Outsider rushed in, seized the flour scoop, and liberally dosed the burning floor, killing the fire effectually. He got a bill from the storeßeeper three days later charging him for the flour. The chairman of the Taranaki County I Council (Mr. Jos. Brown) informed the Council yesterday that) he does not intend to seek re-election. The amount of the chairman's honorarium was under discussion, a motion that the sum be £7O being met by an amendment to fix it at £57. All the members had spoken on the question, and it was openly stated the motion would be defeated, when Mr. Brown said the Council could get another chairman. In any case he would not take more than £SO for the past year. "I cannot afford to be out of pocket," 'he said. "I would be better on my farm, and I am willing to go there." On being put to the meeting the amendment was carried, so thai at the statutory meeting on the 30th hist, a new chairman will probably have to be elected. In replying to the chairman's welcome to the Council table at the Taranaki County Council meeting yesterday, Cr. j McAllum said it was not always a matter for congratulation, but sometimes . one of condolence, in a matter of that j sort, as a man sometimes had to give I up a good deal of time to the repre- | sentation of his riding. Someone had to !be offered on the sacrificial altar, aim ! he happened to be that one. Right away j "from the jump,'' he would tell the i Council, he would pull with them if it ! were possible, but he wished them to | know he was of the opinion the Council should obtain the services of an c:i'ginecr. They should Ivve the greatest efficiency compatible with the greatest economy, of course, rnd be honed (lie day was not far distant when the Council would appoint a capable man to 100-, after all the ridings. In conclusion. Mr. j McAllum thanked the chairman for his ' hearty welcome. I MiiLBOUSNE j TAILOR.-MADE SHTS. Thei-'re distinctive, hi:;'. sui;Not nlnne. because they represent, in every feature the best, in suit ! tion. That's ji'.-t what h-s jiv<- fV Melbourne reputation .as i'v>' s -nit head and shoulders above ever'- other Trranaki competitor. As :i lei-iiiT'ss poli-v, if. is a good invest-v; :<fc to buy your suit from a responsible corrianv---accompany guarantee t>;e-ius something You know what th» Melbowne suits stand for—now i"nrn what ihev can do; get into one. ['rices 49s Cd to )05s. BEST FOR CHILDREN. There is no narcotic or other harmful substance in Chamberlains' Cough Re- ; medy. It can be given to a laby as con-h-lentlv as to an adult. 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